Cart with folding auger having adjustable elevation

ABSTRACT

A cart having an adjustable elevation auger. A junction box may located within the opening of a sump of a bin of a cart. The junction box may have an open top, closed bottom and sides, and back wall. The back wall of the junction box may be secured to a bin wall by a hinge such that the junction box may pivot about a pivot axis. An auger housing may be connected to and extend from the junction box. An auger may extend through the auger housing and have an intake end disposed within the junction box. The auger housing and auger may pivot with the junction box about a pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position. The auger may be a corner auger and may be a folding auger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally directed to carts and specificallydirected to a cart with an auger having adjustable elevation.

II. Description of the Related Art

Carts, such as grain carts, shorten harvesting time by improving theefficiency of harvesting equipment such as combines. Carts may be usedto transport grain from harvesters or combines in the field to graintrucks or bins at the side of the field. Carts are needed because grainbins are immobile, and grain trucks often do not perform well in muddyor rough field conditions and have the potential to spark fires in dryfields. Carts usually comprise a bin (i.e., hopper or box) sitting atopa wheeled frame in combination with an auger means or mechanism forunloading grain from the bin. Carts handle soft or rough fields withease and are typically drawn by a tractor alongside a combine, whichunloads its contents into the cart. Carts enable a combine to continueto harvest while unloading the grain into the cart. This grain unloadingmethod increases productivity dramatically because combines need neverstop to unload. In addition, it is not necessary for the combinesthemselves to travel to grain trucks or bins at the side of the fieldeach time the combine is full. After a cart is loaded with grain orother material by one or more combines, the grain is unloaded from thecart into a bin for temporary storage or into a waiting grain truck fortransport to another location, such as a grain elevator. Because cartsoffer a combination of economy, versatility, production savings, andmaneuverability, carts have been widely accepted by farmers and widelyproduced by equipment manufacturers.

Carts capable of unloading grain directly into a grain truck or bin usea conveyor to do so. Often the conveyor is an auger. Various augerconfigurations are known. Auger structures can be contained inside thehopper structure or be located entirely outside of it. Augerconfigurations can have a single auger or multiple augers. The augerstructure can be located at the front, side, back or corner of the cart.

In auger configurations having an auger that extends through the hoppersuch that there is an auger structure contained inside the hopperstructure, grain removal from the hopper can be significantly impairedbecause internal auger structures hinder downward grain flow, leak graininto the sump causing a high start-up torque, and lessen the depth ofthe hopper sump area. Therefore, it is desirable that the augerstructure is located entirely outside of the hopper.

A double auger configuration has a lower auger and an upper auger. Thelower auger receives material from the hopper and deposits it into theupper hopper. The upper auger then carries the material received fromthe lower auger and deposits it into a trailer, such as a grain trailer.Even triple auger configurations are known having, for example, a lower,horizontally disposed drag auger, a vertically disposed lift auger, andan upper, horizontally disposed discharge auger. However, these pluralauger configurations suffer from the disadvantage of increasedcomplexity and cost resulting from the increased number of moving partsand required maintenance. In addition, the likelihood that the materialwill damaged is increased with each auger.

Carts having a single auger configuration are also known. Compared tomultiple auger configurations, single auger configurations are desirablebecause they are less complex and cause less damage to the grain orother material. One type of single auger configuration is a cornerauger. A corner auger extends outwards and upwards from the lowermostportion of the hopper along the corner of the hopper. A folding, cornerauger has a retractable section that can be pivoted to a compact, foldedposition during non-use or travel and to an extended, unfolded positionduring use. If the retractable section is located at the front of thehopper in its compact, folded position, an operator of the cart caneasily view whether the retractable section of the auger is in itscompact, folded position or in its extended, unfolded position.

In many prior art carts, the height at which material was dischargedcould not be adjusted to accommodate trailers, trucks and bins ofdifferent heights. As a result, these carts could either be incompatiblewith tall containers or designed to accommodate the highest container.But, when such a grain cart is used with a shorter container, a gapbetween the dispensing end of the auger and the container is created.Because material, such as grain, is often light and susceptible to beingblown away in windy conditions, the gap increases the amount of materialwhich spills from the auger while attempting to unload the material intothe container. Therefore, it is desirable for the elevation at which acart discharges material to adjustable.

Carts with adjustable discharge elevation are known. Some carts reliedon belt conveyors instead augers to discharge material at an adjustableelevation. However, augers are preferred to other types of conveyors,including belt conveyors, because of their simplicity, low cost,durability and versatility. Further, while other types of conveyors areunable to convey material at steep angles, auger operation can continueat any angle.

Carts having adjustable elevation augers are also known. Conventionaladjustable elevation augers are often implemented using double augers byusing a stationary or fixed lower auger in combination with a moveableupper auger. The stationary lower auger can easily be sealed to preventmaterial leakage from the hopper, but the range of auger is limited dueto the lower portion of the auger assembly being stationary.

Thus, there remains a need for a cart having an auger, and preferably acorner auger, with adjustable elevation that can efficiently unloadmaterial without leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention succeeds where others have failed by providing agrain cart having a sealed corner auger with adjustable elevation. Theresult is a grain cart having all the advantages of corner augers andadjustable elevation. Not only is less grain damaged and more grainvisibility provided, but less grain is lost.

An aspect of the invention is a cart having a frame, a bin, a junctionbox, an auger housing, an auger and a lift assembly. The frame issupported on a plurality of wheels. The bin is supported on the frameand includes a plurality of bin walls defining a storage spaceconverging at a sump opening at a bottom of the bin. The junction box ismounted to pivot within the sump opening about a pivot axis. The augerhousing connected to and extending from the junction box. The augerextends through the auger housing and has an intake end disposed withinthe junction box. The lift assembly is connected with the auger housingand movable to cause the auger housing to pivot with the junction boxabout the pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevatedposition.

In some embodiments, the auger housing may extend upwardly from thejunction box along a corner of the bin. The pivoting junction box mayinclude an open top. The pivoting junction box may further include aclosed bottom and sides, and a back wall pivotally secured to the bin.The intake end of the auger is rotatably secured to the back wall of thepivoting junction box. The cart may have a hinge that pivotally securesa top edge of the back wall to the bin. The cart may have an elasticseal member disposed within a gap between a side of the junction box andthe bin. The cart may have a plurality of elastic seal members disposedin a plurality of gaps between opposite sides of the junction box andthe bin. The cart may have a pair of seal support plates extending awayfrom the back wall of the junction box on opposite sides of the junctionbox, and, for each pair of seal support plates, at least one of theplurality of elastic seal members may extend along the bin in parallelwith the seal support plates. Each of the plurality of seal members maybe biased toward the junction box using one or more springs. The springsmay be one of helical coil springs and leaf springs. The cart may have aflap mounted on a second bin wall and extending into the pivotingjunction box to guide material in the bin into the pivoting junctionbox. The flap may include a top edge attached to the second bin wall anda free bottom edge. The flap may include wings extending from side edgesof the flap. The wings may have a triangular shape. The wings may extendperpendicular to a planar surface of the flap.

In some embodiments, the auger housing may include a lower auger housingand an upper auger housing. The lower auger housing may be pivotallysecured to the upper auger housing such that the upper auger housing ispivotable between an extended position, in which the upper auger housingis substantially in alignment with the lower auger housing, and aretracted position, in which the upper auger housing extends along anouter surface of the bin. The lower auger housing may include a flangethat connects the lower auger housing to the pivoting junction box. Thecart may include a flap extending from the bin to an upper edge of theflange. The upper edge of the flange may be configured to slide againstthe flap as the junction box pivots. The flap may be sufficiently stiffto prevent being pushed, by the weight of material flowing from the bininto the pivoting junction box, over the flange but flexible enough tomove with the flange as the elevation of the auger is adjusted. The flapmay be a rubber flap. The rubber flap may be made of masticated rubber.

In some embodiments, the lift assembly may include a piston. The cartmay be configured to be pulled by a tractor, and the piston may beconfigured to be controlled remotely from a cab of the tractor. Thepiston may be connected between the frame and the auger housing. Thepiston may be connected between the bin and the auger housing.

In some embodiments, the bin may be configured to hold grain. Anelevation of the discharge end of the auger may be adjustable from about126 inches in a lowered position to about 161 inches in an elevatedposition. The junction box may include a clean out door.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose of skill in the art upon reviewing the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form partof the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention and, together with the detailed description, further serve toexplain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilledin the art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, likereference numbers are used to indicate identical or functionally similarelements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of the reference numberidentifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1A is a corner view of a cart with an adjustable elevation auger inits elevated position according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a corner view of a cart with an adjustable elevation auger inits lowered position according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cart with an adjustable elevation augershowing the adjustable elevation auger in both its elevated and loweredpositions according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pivoting junction box, auger, augerhousing and flap of a cart according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is side view of a pivoting junction box, auger, auger housing andbin of a cart according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pivoting junction box, auger,auger housing, bin and elastic seal member of a cart to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are cross-sectional views of a pivoting junctionbox, bin and elastic seal member according to an embodiment of theinvention and respectively show the elastic seal member when the augeris an intermediate position, elevated position and lowered position.FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view of a pivoting junction box, bin andhard seal member according to an embodiment of the invention and showsthe hard seal member when the auger is in an elevated position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are side views of a pivoting junction box, auger, augerhousing and flap of a cart according to an embodiment of the inventionand respectively show the relationship of the flap with a flange of theauger housing when the auger is in an elevated position and in a loweredposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a grain cart 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention. Cart 100 has a frame 101 supported by aplurality of wheels 102. Frame 101 supports a bin 103 having a pluralityof bin walls 104. The bin walls 104 define a storage space converging atthe opening of a sump 105. A junction box 106 is pivotally mounted tobin 103 at the opening of sump 105. An auger housing 107 is connected toand extends upwardly from pivoting junction box 106 along a corner ofbin 103.

The auger housing 107 has a lower auger housing 108 and an upper augerhousing 109. Lower auger housing 108 is pivotally secured to upper augerhousing 109 such that the upper auger housing is pivotable between anextended position, in which said upper auger housing is substantially inalignment with said lower auger housing, and a retracted position, inwhich said upper auger housing folds along an outer surface of bin 103.For example, in the retracted position, the upper auger housing may bedisposed along the outer surface of the outer surface of bin 103 in asubstantially horizontal direction.

A lift assembly 110 is connected between auger housing 107 and frame 101and is movable to cause the auger housing 107 to pivot with pivotingjunction box 106 between an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 1A, anda lowered position, as shown in FIG. 1B. Furthermore, FIG. 2 illustratesa side view of the cart 100 with the auger housing 107 both in itselevated and lower positions. Lift assembly 110 may include, forexample, a piston.

Cart 100 may be configured to be pulled by a tractor, and lift assembly110 may be configured to be controlled remotely from a cab of thetractor. Bin 103 may be configured to hold material, such as grain orseed.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the details of pivoting junction box 106, sump 105and auger housing 107 of cart 100 having an adjustable elevation augeraccording to an embodiment of the invention. Pivoting junction box 106includes a closed bottom 401, sides 301 and a back wall 302. Pivotingjunction box 106 also includes an open top. The open top of pivotingjunction box 106 is located at the opening of sump 105. Junction box 106is pivotally secured to bin 103 via a hinge 303. For example, hinge 303may pivotally secure a top edge of back wall 302 of junction box 106 tobin 103.

An auger 304 extends through auger housing 107. Auger 304 has an intakeend 305 disposed within pivoting junction box 106 at the opening of sump105. Intake end 305 of auger 304 is rotatably secured to back wall 302of pivoting junction box 106.

Lower auger housing 109 of auger housing 107 includes a flange 306 thatconnects lower auger housing 109 to pivoting junction box 106. A flap307 extends from bin 103 to an upper edge of flange 306. Flap 307 may bemounted on a bin wall of the plurality of bin walls 104. Flap 307includes a top edge 308 attached to the bin wall and a free bottom edge309. The top edge 308 of flap 307 can be attached to bin 103 using anysuitable fasteners, which may include rivets and/or bolts. Flap 307 alsoincludes side edges 310 and may include wings 311 extending from sideedges 310. Wings 311 may have a triangular shape and may extendperpendicular to a planar surface of flap 307.

Flap 307 extends into pivoting junction box 106 to guide material in bin103 into the pivoting junction box 106. The upper edge of flange 306 isconfigured to slide against flap 307 as junction box 106 pivots. Lowerauger housing 108 may be offset from the center of flange 306 to ensureoverlapping contact between flap 307 and flange 306 when the augerhousing 107 is in the elevated position and slight overlap in thelowered position. Flap 307 is configured to be sufficiently stiff toprevent being pushed, by the weight of material flowing from bin 103into pivoting junction box 106, over flange 306 but flexible enough tomove with flange 306 as the elevation of auger 304 is adjusted. Forexample, flap 307 may be a rubber flap, and, more particularly, may bemade of masticated rubber. However, flap 307 may be constructed of anysuitable material.

On each of the opposite sides of pivoting junction box 106, a gap existsbetween side 301 and bin 103. Seal members 501 are disposed in the gapsbetween sides 301 of junction box 106 and bin 103. For example, a firstelastic seal member 501 may be disposed between one of sides 301 and bin103, and second elastic seal member 501 may be disposed between theother of sides 301 and bin 103

FIGS. 6A-6C show a cross-sectional view of an elastic seal member 501according to one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, a pair of sealsupport plates 601 may extend away from back wall 302 of junction box106 on each of opposite sides 301 of junction box 106, and, for eachpair of seal support plates 601, at least one of the elastic sealmembers 501 may extend along the bin 103 in parallel with the sealsupport plates 601. Further, each of the elastic seal members 501 may bebiased toward pivoting junction box 106 using one or more springs 602.For example, the one or more springs 602 may be helical coil springs orleaf springs. FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show an elastic seal member 501 whenauger 304 is in an intermediate position, elevated position and loweredposition, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, the seal members 501 may instead bedifficult to bend (e.g., made of a hard rubber or plastic). Accordingly,the hard seal members 501 remain straight and slide against the bin 103as the junction box 106 pivots. Here, the springs 602 may be biasedtowards bin 103 and keep the seal members 501 in contact with bin 103.FIG. 6D shows a cross-sectional view of a hard seal member 501 when theauger is in an elevated position in accordance with this alternativeembodiment.

In addition, pivoting junction box 106 may include a clean out door 402.

In operation, lift assembly 110 may be used to cause the auger housing107 to pivot with junction box 106 between a lowered position and anelevated position. Hinge 303 forms a pivot axis about which junction box106 pivots. The auger housing 107 pivots with junction box 106 about thepivot axis formed by hinge 303 between the lowered and elevatedpositions. Cart 100 may be pulled by a tractor, and lift assembly 110may be controlled remotely from a cab of the tractor. Because augerhousing 107 may be pivoted between the lowered and elevated positions,the auger housing 107 may be adjusted to the lowered position, to theelevated position and to any position in between. In other words, insome embodiments, an operator is not limited to choosing solely betweenthe elevated position and the lowered position and may also choose anyposition between the elevated and lowered positions.

Flap 307, which may include wings 311, guides material in bin 103 intothe pivoting junction box 106. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the upperedge of flange 306 slides against flap 307 as junction box 106 pivots.FIG. 7A shows flap 307 resting on flange 306 when auger housing 107 isin the elevated position. As auger housing 107 and junction box 106pivot to the lowered position, auger housing 107 moves away from bin103, and the upper edge of flange 306 slides against flap 307. FIG. 7Bshows the relationship between flap 307 and flange 306 when augerhousing 107 is in the lowered position. Here, the free bottom edge 309of flap 307 rests in proximity to the upper edge of flange 306. Still,flap 307 is stiff enough to prevent being pushed over flange 306 by thematerial from bin 103.

Elastic seal members 501 disposed in the gaps between opposite sides 301of pivoting junction box 106 and bin 103 maintain a seal between sides301 and bin 103 when auger 304, auger housing 107 and junction box 106pivot between a lowered position and an elevated position. Bymaintaining the seal between sides 301, and bin 103, elastic sealmembers 501 prevent material, such as grain, in bin 103 from fallingthrough the gaps before entering junction box 106 within the opening ofsump 105 at bottom of bin 103.

Pivoting of auger housing 107 and junction box 106 enables the height ofa discharge end 111 of auger 304 to be adjusted. Adjusting the height ofdischarge end 111 of auger 304 enables the height of the discharge end111 to more closely match the height of a trailer into which materialfrom the storage space of bin 103 is to be unloaded. Accordingly, thegap between discharge end 111 of auger 304 and the trailer is minimized,thereby minimizing loss of material from the storage space of bin 103due to wind during unloading. Moreover, the adjustable elevation makesit easier for operators to position the chute over the trailer.

In one embodiment, the elevation of discharge end 111 of auger 304 maybe adjusted from about 126 inches in a lowered position to about 161inches in an elevated position. The two heights correspond to commontrailer heights. The taller trailer is known as a Super B trailer, andthe shorter trailer is a standard North American trailer. By moreclosely matching the height of the discharge end 111 to the height ofthe trailer, the gap between them is minimized thereby minimizing grainloss due to wind during the unloading process.

While the invention has been disclosed in detail above, the invention isnot intended to be limited to the invention as disclosed. It is evidentthat those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses andmodifications of and departures from the specific embodiments describedherein without departing from the inventive concepts.

While various embodiments/variations of the present invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that they have been presentedby way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scopeof the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments. Further, unless stated, none ofthe above embodiments are mutually exclusive. Thus, the presentinvention may include any combinations and/or integrations of thefeatures of the various embodiments.

Additionally, while the invention has been particularly taught anddescribed with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those versedin the art will appreciate that modifications in form and detail may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, although lift assembly 110 is shown as connected between augerhousing 107 and frame 101 in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, lift assembly 110 mayalternatively be connected between auger housing 107 and bin 103. Also,although auger housing 107 is described as having lower auger housing108 and upper auger housing 109 pivotable between extended and retractedpositions, auger housing 107 may alternatively be a single housing thatis not capable of pivoting between extended and retracted positions.

For another example, although the pivoting junction box 106 is shown ashaving a closed bottom 401 that is flat, closed bottom 401 mayalternatively have curved profile that corresponds to the shape of auger304.

Although auger 304 is illustrated as being a corner auger located at thefront left corner of bin 103 of cart 100, auger 304 may alternatively bea corner auger located any corner of bin 103. Further, the invention isalso applicable to carts having an auger that is not a corner auger.

These and other modifications of the present invention are intended tobe within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cart comprising: a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; a bin supported on said frame and including a plurality of bin walls defining a storage space converging at a sump opening at a bottom of said bin; a junction box mounted to pivot within said sump opening about a pivot axis, wherein said pivoting junction box includes an open top, a closed bottom, a back wall pivotally secured to said bin, and first and second sides each extending from the junction box bottom and from the junction box back wall; an auger housing connected to and extending from said junction box; an auger extending through said auger housing and having an intake end disposed within said junction box; a lift assembly connected with said auger housing and movable to cause said auger housing to pivot with said junction box about said pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position; and an elastic seal member disposed within a gap between said first side of said junction box and said bin.
 2. The cart of claim 1, wherein said auger housing extends upwardly from said junction box along a corner of said bin.
 3. The cart of claim 1, wherein said intake end of said auger is rotatably secured to said back wall of said pivoting junction box.
 4. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a hinge that pivotally secures a top edge of said back wall to said bin.
 5. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a second elastic seal member disposed in a gap between said second side of said junction box and said bin.
 6. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a flap mounted on a bin wall of the plurality of bin walls and extending into the pivoting junction box to guide material in the bin into the pivoting junction box.
 7. The cart of claim 6, wherein said flap includes a top edge attached to the bin wall and a free bottom edge.
 8. The cart of claim 1, wherein said auger housing includes a lower auger housing and an upper auger housing.
 9. The cart of claim 8, wherein said lower auger housing is pivotally secured to said upper auger housing such that the upper auger housing is pivotable between an extended position, in which said upper auger housing is substantially in alignment with said lower auger housing, and a retracted position, in which said upper auger housing extends along an outer surface of said bin.
 10. The cart of claim 9, wherein said lower auger housing includes a flange that connects said lower auger housing to said pivoting junction box.
 11. The cart of claim 10, further comprising a flap extending from said bin to an upper edge of said flange.
 12. The cart of claim 1, wherein said lift assembly includes a piston.
 13. The cart of claim 12, wherein said cart is configured to be pulled by a tractor, and wherein said piston is configured to be controlled remotely from a cab of the tractor.
 14. The cart of claim 12, wherein said piston is connected between said frame and said auger housing.
 15. The cart of claim 12, wherein said piston is connected between said bin and said auger housing.
 16. The cart of claim 1, wherein said bin is configured to hold grain.
 17. The cart of claim 1, wherein an elevation of a discharge end of said auger relative to the ground can be adjusted from about 126 inches in a lowered position to about 161 inches in an elevated position.
 18. The cart of claim 1, wherein said junction box includes a clean out door.
 19. The cart of claim 1, wherein the elastic seal member is disposed within the gap between said first side of said junction box and said bin such that a line perpendicular to said first side would pass through said first side, said elastic seal member, and said bin.
 20. The cart of claim 19, further comprising a second elastic seal member disposed in a gap between said second side of said junction box and said bin such that a line perpendicular to said second side would pass through said second side, said second elastic seal member, and said bin.
 21. A cart comprising: a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; a bin supported on said frame and including a plurality of bin walls defining a storage space converging at a sump opening at a bottom of said bin; a junction box mounted to pivot about a pivot axis, said pivoting junction box including an open top, closed bottom, sides, and a back wall pivotally secured to said bin; an auger housing connected to and extending from said junction box; an auger extending through said auger housing and having an intake end disposed within said junction box; a lift assembly connected with said auger housing and movable to cause said auger housing to pivot with said junction box about said pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position; a plurality of elastic seal members disposed in a plurality of gaps between opposite sides of said junction box and said bin; and a pair of seal support plates extending away from said back wall of said junction box on opposite sides of said junction box, and wherein, for each pair of seal support plates, at least one of the plurality of elastic seal members extends along the bin in parallel with said seal support plates.
 22. The cart of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of seal members is biased toward said junction box using one or more springs.
 23. The cart of claim 22, wherein said one or more springs are one of helical coil springs and leaf springs.
 24. A cart comprising: a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; a bin supported on said frame and including a plurality of bin walls defining a storage space converging at a sump opening at a bottom of said bin; a junction box mounted to pivot about a pivot axis, said pivoting junction box including an open top, closed bottom, sides, and a back wall pivotally secured to said bin; an auger housing connected to and extending from said junction box; an auger extending through said auger housing and having an intake end disposed within said junction box; a lift assembly connected with said auger housing and movable to cause said auger housing to pivot with said junction box about said pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position; and a flap mounted on a bin wall of the plurality of bin walls and extending into the pivoting junction box to guide material in the bin into the pivoting junction box; wherein said flap includes a top edge attached to the bin wall, a free bottom edge, and wings extending from side edges of said flap.
 25. The cart of claim 24, wherein said wings have a triangular shape.
 26. The cart of claim 24, wherein said wings extend perpendicular to a planar surface of said flap.
 27. A cart comprising: a frame supported on a plurality of wheels; a bin supported on said frame and including a plurality of bin walls defining a storage space converging at a sump opening at a bottom of said bin; a junction box mounted to pivot about a pivot axis; an auger housing connected to and extending from said junction box, said auger housing includes a flange that connects said auger housing to said pivoting junction box; an auger extending through said auger housing and having an intake end disposed within said junction box; a lift assembly connected with said auger housing and movable to cause said auger housing to pivot with said junction box about said pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position; and a flap extending from said bin to an upper edge of said flange; wherein said upper edge of said flange is configured to slide against said flap as said junction box pivots.
 28. The cart of claim 27, wherein said flap is sufficiently stiff to prevent being pushed, by the weight of material flowing from said bin into said pivoting junction box, over said flange but flexible enough to move with said flange as the elevation of the auger is adjusted.
 29. The cart of claim 28, wherein said flap is a rubber flap.
 30. The cart of claim 29, wherein said rubber flap is made of masticated rubber. 